Delivering Ebola treatment services in Liberia

Background

During the 2014–2015 West Africa Ebola outbreak, Liberia became one of the hardest-hit countries. The international community mobilised urgently to contain the outbreak, protect healthcare workers and support overstretched national health systems. Aspen Medical was contracted by USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance to manage up to 14 Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) across Liberia as part of this global response. 

Approach

Aspen Medical rapidly deployed a multidisciplinary international team, including 95 expatriate clinical and project staff, alongside more than 700 Liberian health workers. Our teams established and managed ETUs capable of operating 24/7 in complex and resource-constrained environments. 

Services delivered included: 

• comprehensive patient care for Ebola Virus Disease, aligned with WHO and Médecins Sans Frontières standards
• hydration therapy, symptomatic management, nutritional support and psychosocial care
• rigorous infection prevention and control measures to safeguard staff and patients
• workforce training and mentoring programs for Liberian healthcare workers
• full logistics and camp services including catering, waste management, facilities maintenance, security and staff accommodation. 

Aspen Medical also worked closely with local County Health Departments to recruit and train Liberian nationals, ensuring continuity of care and building trust with communities. 

Results

• Treated thousands of patients at ETUs across Liberia, supporting the national effort to contain Ebola.
• Protected Aspen Medical staff with zero infections recorded, demonstrating the effectiveness of infection control protocols.
• Delivered strong local partnerships and built capacity by training more than 700 Liberian health workers.
• Successfully met changing requirements and ETU opening dates, earning WHO credentialing for all Aspen Medical-managed sites. 

Outcome

Aspen Medical’s work in Liberia played a critical role in strengthening the country’s Ebola response during the peak of the outbreak. By providing high-quality care, protecting frontline health workers and transferring knowledge to local personnel, Aspen Medical helped contain the epidemic while supporting the long-term resilience of Liberia’s health system.